The main conclusion of this review is that a lack of scientific evidence makes it difficult to properly characterize the context of intellectual disability in Latin America. Insufficient data is also a barrier to policy and services development for governments in Latin America. Although recently there have been efforts to develop government programs to meet the needs of the intellectual disability population in Latin America, the effectiveness of these programs is questionable without proper evaluation. There is a need for studies that characterize the needs of people with intellectual disability specifically in Latin America, and future research in this area should emphasize how it can inform current and future policies and services for people with intellectual disability.